Ronaldinho Introduces Himself and Reveals the Secrets Behind His Decision to Join Ravenna

Ronaldinho is Ravenna’s dream signing—a player (at 46 years old) and also a club partner who will play in his second consecutive season in Serie C and aims to improve on the third-place finish in Group B and, above all, the elimination in the second round of the national playoffs that marked the end of last season. Thursday was a big day for the Gaucho, who arrived in the city and was introduced that evening. It was a golden opportunity to explain to his new fans the reasoning behind such an unconventional choice to revive a career already brimming with successes across the globe.

““I said yes to Ravenna for all the friends who are here,” he explained from the stage set up by the club. “Their project is truly wonderful, and I hope everything goes well. I’m thrilled to be here, and I have high expectations. My hope is to give you all a lot—I owe it to you to repay you for coming out in such large numbers today. Thank you for being here; I say this from the bottom of my heart.” Earlier, speaking to the press, he had stated: “Physically, I’m in great shape, and I’ve always felt very comfortable in Italy. I remember wonderful moments, like the goals against Inter in the derby. It would be great to face Milan again, perhaps in a friendly match. In the meantime, though, we have to win in this jersey in Serie C.”

The presentation took place on the beach adjacent to the Diga Foranea Sud in Marina di Ravenna, where at least six thousand people were in attendance. The event transformed the small town in Romagna into an unprecedented media spectacle for the league, with merchandise and food-and-beverage stands open as early as the afternoon. Ronaldinho had landed that morning at Forlì Airport on a private flight, shortly before noon, before heading to the presentation venue that evening.

R10’s adventure with Ravenna had been made official in late June in Miami, at a special event during which the club’s new jersey was also unveiled. From the very beginning, club owner Ignazio Cipriani had clarified the nature of the Brazilian’s involvement: “Signing Ronaldinho is something absolutely extraordinary for the club; he was my idol, and his impact on soccer goes beyond what he did on the field.” Cipriani had also hinted that the Gaucho would join the club’s ownership and play at least one home game. Ronaldinho himself, in an interview with Flashscore, confirmed: “Ravenna is a challenge for me, too—I’ll definitely play a few minutes in an official match.”

Coach Andrea Mandorlini also spoke thoughtfully about Ronaldinho’s dual role as both a player and a media sensation: “Ronaldinho at Ravenna is a marketing move, of course. But a brilliant one. With him on the team, we’re bound to return to the spotlight, but let’s not forget that we’re talking about a truly great champion. Having him with us is a tremendous pleasure—you’ll definitely see him on the field.” Vice President Ariedo Braida, a former executive at Milan and Barcelona and therefore someone with firsthand knowledge of the Brazilian’s qualities, was on the same page: “Ronaldinho is an ageless champion. We’ll see him on the field—it’s not out of the question. A champion—and he is a world-class player—has no age.”

It’s worth noting that his last professional match was in 2015, playing for Fluminense, before an eleven-year retirement. During his career, he played for Grêmio, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Milan, Flamengo, Atlético Mineiro, and Querétaro, winning the 2006 Champions League with Barça and the 2013 Libertadores with Galo, as well as a World Cup, a Copa América, and a Confederations Cup with the Seleção. His first stint in Italy, with AC Milan, lasted from the summer of 2008 to January 2011, with 11 appearances during the Scudetto-winning season. Just a few weeks ago, in fact, Ronaldinho was also in the global spotlight: he took the stage at MetLife Stadium in New York during the halftime show of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, performing alongside Madonna and “The Phenomenon” Ronaldo in a show curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay.